Women in Oregon earn 22% less working full time than men, according to a new study.

Oregon's gender-pay gap amounts to nearly $10,000 annually for women -- and a combined $4.5 billion across the state, according to the National Partnership for Women & Families.

The DC-based nonprofit released the state-by-state study Monday, in an effort to urge Congress to pass the Paycheck Fairness Act. It would amend the Fair Labor Standards Act to include more protections against gender-based pay discrimination, such as allowing women to pursue legal action against such bias.

The group contends that closing the pay gap is crucial, particularly for women in single-parent households. In Oregon, about one-third of those families -- or more than 52,000 households -- live below the federal poverty line, according to the report.

BY JACOB PALMER | OB DIGITAL NEWS EDITOR

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